Automatic repeater



R. G. BROWN AND J. E. STRIETELMEIER.

AUTOMATIC REPEATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17. 19.16. RENEWED OCT. 15.1921. 1,413,554.

2 M H 2 T N 9.. m m .A um mm M R. G- BROWN AND J. E- STRIETELMEIER- AUTOMATIC REPEATER- APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. 1916. RENEWED ocr. 15,1921. 1,4;13,554, Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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Airwoman REPEAT'ER.

Application filed November 17, 1916; Serial Nb 131,242, aenewea-o'ctoberis, 1921. Seria1"1\To. 5l)8,049.

To, all whom it may concern: v I Be it known that we, ROBERT G. BROWN and JOHN E. STRIETELMEIER, bothcitizens of the United States, i and residing at Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, and at Cincinnati, in'the county of Hamilton and State. of Ohio, respectively, have invented. a new and Improved Automatic Repeater, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to phonograph repeating mechanism and itaims to effect an improvement on I the mechanism disclosed d claimed nte c -r d g app e'ati o v .r V

- Kala sanne th an m s n th he; pr 7 September 15, 191 6, whereby said mechanism" is universally applicable to-various types and. varieties of phonographs without necessitating special'elem'ents or fixtures-adaptable for given machines only.

of Brown and Striete'lm'eier No. 120,302-, filed Other objects will be inpart obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the' following analysis of this invention.- 1 ..I

. This invention accordingly consistsin the features of construction, combination of parts and in the i'inique relations ofth mem hers and in the relative pr'oportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completelyoutlined herein.

- To; enable-others skilledinth'e art so any to comprehend the underlying features there-'- of that they may embody the same by nu' merous modifications in' structure and relation contemplate'dby this invention, draw= lngs depicting a preferred form have been annexech as a part of this 'd1sclo'sure and in such drawings, like characters of reference,

denote corresponding parts throughout .all the views of which I V Fig. 1 is a plan of; a conventional phonograph having this fixture combined therewith, and showing the .davit in overhanging relation with the free endofthe tone-' arm, and with the trip-lever located in its normal position about to be tripped by inn"- pact of the stylus. V V

Fig. 2 is the side elevation of the same showing the operating mechanism in sec tion along line 22 of 1.

Fig is a section along line.33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a section along line 44 of Fig.- 1,

general, this invention contemplates a 10W, compact self contained device adapted ate, to concludethe performance;

-s a1fieaaonarraaa ream. Patn'td 18; T9522;

to enter into combination the t-ional elementsof a standard phonograph r shifter which carries the stylus from the end eiha es ee of re or (9) a m t on: transm ssion which furnishes the necessary gears and shifts resultingin l Qtuatio1 1 of the. teand. te (D); m wer 9 1.- ne eriwhi fi i th n tu o a lu ch I e ism d which atarn fbrriatei rm y' urs i b wx h ma pr f ably J be the 'turnetable itself(but which may. be

an easily ccess b e o 'r r men a trip-system which is effective; auto-[ maticallyto throw the power connector into; actionat the appropriate station in-the rec-,

ord; (F) a controlj-leverwhich automatically effects; a. disconnection of the; p'ower-connector, and nOrmaIi-Z esthe relation of the trip iZQYt/h e mechanism; an adj ustor which predetermines the, numberi offtirnes the mechanism operates toreplay the record; and i i a brakeWhi Chis conveniently caused to opera The th t:

difliculty with the c nisms that weihavei heretofore devi s'ed gisthat they 7 require special, fixtures oralterationsin 'de tail ;to adapt them to j'different makes of phonographs; This occ'asio ns' much trouble r o r ha r,- u liv J me 1 173 18 develo'ped a construction readily". applicable in a universal way to practically all phonographs havln'g free swinging-arms. w 1

The'imprpvement for achieving this par- V ticular result lies princioally'inthe unique arrangement of the lifter and shifter for the't'one-arm; and this will now be described r The base or frame is designed to be made preferably from a single sheet-metal stamping formed in such'a' manner that the elements are all, or in the main, thin ini'the horizontal, planes, i. e, they are arranged horizontally flat- Wise-so -as not to be very high in the aggregate even when they; are superimposed. A unique simplification in structureis shownby the; drawings inwhichthestamping 15 is formedto presenta'closed top or dome, and an open bottom adapted to receive the works; thereby dispensing" with other necessity of employingan extra .which serve to position and act as a bearelement as a top or cover, together with its fastenings. This one-piece stamping 15 provides two opposite tongues, D and E, providing slots (Z and e which are elongated in a direction away from the turn-table to aid in ultimately accurately locating the attachment. The stamping also provides positioning pins or tongues B and C which, during the initial adjusting of the device to the phonograph, are first pressed against the edge of the turntable, and the screws are then inserted in the far ends of the slots; but, before they are tightened down finally, the device is then pulled as far away from the turn-table as the length of the slots will permit; and then when the screws are tightened down, the device will be accurately located. The base also-provides an ear 9' which is bent inwards and has a hole registering with a hole in the upper part of said base 15 forming a cover, and said holes are adapted to receive a post 9 which supports the davit 11. A bracket N is secured to the side of the base-frame by screws 20 and has two ears 20 extending therefrom ing for a shaft which is the axis of swing of the sub-frame used for shifting the power off and on. An upward extension 21 and the opening 22 in the end of the base-frame act as guides and bearings for the shiftable brake element shown in Fig. 1.

The stylus lifter and shifter proposed by this invention is universal in its applicability to various types of tone-arms and their sound-boxes. That is to say, in certain types of phonographs the tone-arm and sound-box constitute a rigid unit which, at a point re mote from the record, is supported by a universal joint. In other types, the tone-arm swings about a fixed vertical axis at its rear, and the sound-box pivots about a definite horizontal axis at the free-end of the tonearm. The stylus lifter and shifter'herein proposed applies equally well to either type, and for the purposes of this disclosure, it will suiiice to explain. it in its relation to the latter type. Thus, the tone-arm 4 is here shown as pivoted at its rear end to swing about a vertical axis. A sound-box 2 is pivoted to the free-end of the tone-arm 4 so as to swing up and down about a horizontal axis. This sound-box carries the stylus 3 which normally rides in the groove of the record. It may be explained that when the sound-box 4' is lifted to raise the stylus, it must not begin the swing back untilthe stylus has entirely cleared the record, otherwise it would be scratched. The lifting and shifting means embodies a davit 11 which is at its upper end journalled in the fixed post 9 which rises from the base. The lower end of the davit 11 is also journalled in the end of a shiftable arm 16; the normal relation of these parts being such that the axis determined by the upper point e and the lower point is is inclined from the vertical. The upper end of the davit provides an extension or arm 11 which projects outwardly and terminates above the sound-box 2 and is connected therewith by means of a cord or other member 12 so that it may lift the stylus from the groove and return the same to its initial position.

The construction herein proposed is such that it will come effectively into action only after the stylus has been raised and in this particular embodiment great simplicity has been attained by intimately incorporating this means with the stylus-lifter, and this has been done by a peculiar relation between the axes e7c and P of the davit and tone-arm, respectively. That is to say, when the stylus is free from the record groove and thus ex ercises a downward pull on the free-end of the davit arm 11, the davit tends to swing about its inclined axis into the particular.

position in which its free-end will be at its lowest point. S1nce thepull is vertically downward,'1t Wlll be in its lowest point when it coincides with the vertical plane determined respectively by the twopoints e and 70. Hence, by adjusting the position of the point e, the vertical plane determined thereby can be caused to lie outside of the initial starting groove of the record, with the effect that when the stylus is uplifted, the clavit to gether with the tone-arm will tend to gravitate to thestarting point. To enable this adjustment to be made to conform readily to the requirements in each particular. case, the post 9 is so mounted in the base that it may be swung about its vertical axis and fixed in any predetermined position desirable for locating the pivot e.

In order that the record may not be scratched by a shifting of the stylus before it is raised clear off the groove, it is desirable that no great turning moment should be imposed on the same at the instant it is uplifted and, to that end, the plane vertically defined by the points 6 and is should at the instant of lifting be not too remote from the end of the record groove. In other words, this plane should shift or swing from a position near the end of the record groove to a position beyond the record groove after the stylus has been lifted. This result is achieved by effecting a shifting of the pivotal point 71: after it is moved to lift the stylus. Thus, in this embodiment, the arm 16 is-pivoted at a point 1' to the base 15 with the result that its free-end swings the point 75 about an arc and thereby effects a progressive variation in the relation between the pivotal points 6 and k with the result that the stylus is first uplifted without being too strongly urged laterally, and is then subjected to a suflicient lateral force to bring it to its startingposi- The motion transmission is the mechanism or trainof elements that results in the actuation of the stylus-replacing means by power derived from some motor driven part, such as the turn-table 1; and which preferably embodies reduction gears so that the ultlmate motion will be slow and deliberate and,

the stylus will be handled gently and without jerks and thus save the record from scratches. In this embodiment, this transmission is in part stationary, and part is bodily shiftable for power connecting purposes. The stationary part comprises a shaft 19 pivoted at its lower end in the cars 20 of the supportingmember N which, by means of screws 20, is fastened to the side of the main frame. The upper end of this shaft 19 is'pr'ovided with an eccentric pin 19 which is connected with theend of the-arm 16 by. meansof the link l? whereby'the clavit 11 may berccke'd slowly. This shaft '19 derives motion from the clutchelement or-whe'elj29 through a train of reduction gears 24,25,26 and 27, the

shafts of which are all pivoted to the-{sideplates 23 of a rocking-frame. This rockingframe 1s in the nature of-a sub-frame com-' posed of a sheet metalstamping. Both gear-- I sets 2% 25, 26: 2? havef-a pronounced reduction effect withtheiconsequence that the table to operate. during the normal playing .of a record without-any concommitant op eration of the return mechanism. Preferably thismeans is located so asto disconnect" as many parts as possible from the source of motion, to avoid needless wear or noise, and

preferably the wheel 29 is therefo re entirely withdrawnfrom the turn-"table. This is conveniently done by pivoting the plates 23 of the sub-frame to the shaft'l9 so that the shaft 28 of the friction wheel will be carried by the remote free-swinging portion of the sub-frame. Thesub-frame is, during the normal playing ofa record, held withdrawn by latch means; but, whenever the end of the record is reached, it swings towards the turntable with the result that the stylus lifter and returner is caused to operate. The position of this sub-frame is in turn determined by the following arrangement The lever control for the swinging power connector functions first to unlatch and resiliently swing the sub-frame to bring the friction wheel 29 into engagement with the periphery of the turn-table and to maintain this engagementuntil the tone-arm has been of; the; spring 38 'at-the'end of the arm 31?."

shifted to its ii'iiti al point, and the meanwhile to -effect a relatohing of the controllever, and then through the same {lever to withdraw the friction-wheel and permit the.

record to be played without interference. Thistripl'e action is very easily effected by the multiplefulcrum' lever-system comprising a sheet-metal lever 31 which is permanentlypivoted at 30 to the plate 23 o f'the swinging'sub frame and which (in the posi-.

tron; of the arts shown by Fi 1) can" (when unlatched) be turned about the sta tionary fulcrum point 19-by acting through the fiat-edge 18 of the cam plate 18. lhat'v is to say, the nockhke end of the lever 31 has entered a right-angle notch '32 in the cam-plate 18 so that it may rest against the edge 18 thereof whichin a sense, constitutes a stationary fulcrum enabling the lever 31 at the point 30 topry the plate 23 -a roiu'rd the aX-is 19. Normally, the lever is preclude'cl from this movement by means era detent I -33 which engages with a shoulder, 31 01 a latch sapi-voted at 36in) a a m-anem a and spring-pressed i to position by the pull} The rotation'of the cam lB be ins themenient the" wheel 29 starts actuatethe davit v lind; this rotatio gisantrelcckwise andj iin-rriediatelybringsthe raised portion 18 aga nstthefledge of the lever 31 seas-to forceits end awa from the shaft-1'9 and swing the lever about .thepivot- 30 (the sub frame remai in still) until the latch-det nt has assed the shoulder 34' in the lat'chi 35. This condition. remains unchanged 7 while the periphery of the camlate 18 rid s V 1 a-gai-nst the edge of-the levere'l -andimtil the pointjlii passes the end ofjthe lever 31, whereupon the fulcrum provided by the carri. 18 will have disappeared and. immediatel its place 18 taken'by the'detent as" so that thes ring new"tenaswnan thei'ever 311 I 1: aroundtheshouldera t-as a'fulcrurn and this tends to throw the pivotal connection 30in the opposite direction and, of course; withdraws-the eub-frame and the friction wheel .29 so that all motion ceases in the entire sit tachm'ent. The sub-frame continues'towith draw until the end of the lever abuts the part 18 again. This action has resulted in I an elevation of the stylus, va swinging of the V tone-arm, and a replacementof the stylus.

Now, the stylus :is in a position to replay the I record and will continue to do so until a trip-system comes into effect to release the latch 35 and cause the attachment to re-; function in restoring the stylus to its initial position,

The trip system is entirely mechanical in this embodiment and it proposes an element such as the arm H pivoted about the pin I and having a contactsurfaceh adapted to bear up against the arm 37 extending from the 1atch'35's0as to swing thelatch to. re-

lease the detent 33 on the lever 8i. This arm 7. is frictionally clutched to a trip lever J which extends into a position to be abutted by the sound-box or stylus directly and cause the arm H to operate the latch. As shown by Fig. 3, a spring-washer L compresses the arms J and ll together with just sui'ricient force to permitof an easy adjustment of the trip-arm J by the hand and yet to transmit without slipping enough pressure to throw the latch. In this way the latch may be caused to operate at any predetermined limit of the stroke of the tone-arm l, with the result that the tonearm is uplifted and permitted to swing in an anti-clockwise direction. This movement is in turn limited by a suitable stop. v

The adjuster operates to determine the number of times the record will automatically repla and it comprises an escape-. ment-like cevice which, after a predetermined number of countings, are released to set a brake against the turn-table. In this embodiment, the parts are composed mainly of sheet-metal and the whole sub-combination is subject to displacement as a unit. Thus, a brake proper consists of a flat strip T with both ends bent at about right angles slidably supported in the opening 22 of the frame and guided by the bent up portion 21,

and having its forward end protruding and turned so as to act as a braking surface 42 against the periphery of theturn-table. As shown by Fig. 1, the blank at its other end is laterally extended and carries a post 89 riveted thereto. 'This post pivotally carries a hand adjustable ratchet 43 having a number of ratchet-teeth 6 that, by an intermittent engagement with the upturned lip 45 of link 16,,operate to turn theratchet-wheel one notch for each stylus lifting cycle. The ratchet-wheel is also provided with a release in the nature of a cut-away portion or slot R. Y A pin S normally bears against the pe riphery of the ratchet-wheel and prevents the spring 46 from bodily shifting this submechanism into its braking position; but when this slot R coincides with the pin S, a release is efiected and the brake T act-s effectively.

ithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowled e readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, we claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations of steps and elements, or equivalents thereof by Letters Patent of the United States.

1. An automatically re-playing phonograph combining a freelyswinging tonearm; a dzwit pivoted independently of the axis of said tone-arm and connected therewith adjacent its free end; and means for varying the vertical inclination of the aXis of said davit to create a component operativeto swing said tone-arm. V

2. An automatically re-playing phonograph combining a freely-swinging tonearm having its free end constructed for ver-,

scribing witnesses,

ROBERT e. BROWN. JOHN E. STRIETELMEIER.

\Vitnesses to Robert E. Brown E. C. WALTON, l/V. W. WEBBER,

l/Vitnesses to John E. Strietelmeier:

FLORENCE E. STETsoN, FLORENCE E. MOORE. 

